Support



H. S. BECK July 15, 1952 SUPPORT Filed OCT. 19, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 5055 FIG.|

klld. 8 m 3 V HARRY-SBECK ATTORNEYS H. S. BECK July l5, 1952 SUPPORT 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1949 HARRY S. BECK ATTORNEYS esame fromthe gutter.

tion of said stem `is a Vplate-like vkeeper which vmethod of disengaging :the clampmember from Patented July 15, 1952 UNI-TEDg STATE I 2,603,394VV fsUPPoi-tir i n Harry Beck, Minneapolis, Minn. Application yOctoberv 19, 1.949 :Serial N'o. 122,287

The object of the instantinvention resides .inv -providing al support for use `on automobiles conpvs'tructed as hereinafter yset forth and having the functions and'advantages recited.V

AThe lsupport disclosed in -this applicationiis f @adapted to be'used in conjunction with an automobile having a top anda gutter extending along the top.v The instant invention vcomprises `an arm formed with a hook at its lower end adapted to extend about the exterior of the gutter. Ex-4 tending along the arm `is a stem to1which lis attached a U-.shaped bracketA extending inwardly therefrom.' :In the'fgutter 'is disposed. awclamp member which is yadapted tto engage the interior rvof the `gutter fand 'which is "also :adapted to engage the lower .end of the said stem. A vbolt extending through the clamp member'stem and arm and slidable relative tov the arm 'andstem,

'clamp the par-ts rtogether 'andlpermits .ofimoving the clamp member upwardly ,to Ydisengage the Overlying the upper porhas an abutment adapted sto engage the upper 4fend of the clamp member to hold the `same in en- :gagement with the gutter. Abolt pa'ssesthroughy 'rholesz'infthe said keeperr and arm and-is, adapted 'tto/pass 'through vany of a number-0f holesin the stem whereby the stemy may be adjusted :relative attachment vof a .strap to the `rholder `for holding the articles to be supportediwithin the'bracket. In thedrawings: -g Fig. ,1 is a cross sectionalvew of aportionof -an automobile illustrating an embodimentfof my invention applied thereto'.v

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view :of the, ysupport and a portiongof the `automobile taken "substantially on line 2-2f0f Fg..1-.and -drawn toagreaterscale. g

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view takenon 1ine 3-3ofFig.2. I

Fig.v4 is a cross sectional view' takenon line Fig. 5 isa view ,similar to Fig. 3 showing the the gutter.

Fig. 6 is a view tionof the invention.

LIn the transporting of long articles such as ish poles and similar articles on Yan ,automobilexvari- .ous iorms of racks and supports have been -.de.

Vto the. arm. -At the upper .end of -thestem-is pro- `vvideda U-shapedbracket lhaving `a vsuction cup vattachedfto the same 'and `adaptedto be, secured :to the to'p of the automobile.` Eyes ,connected Yto the upperxends of this bracket are iused for l visse Ymost .orwhichar permanennyattache to .the automobile. Wfith those that are detachable considerable .time and inconvenience. is .involved v in .removing the .same and Vfrequently holes jare ieftrinthe bod-yor the automobile 'through which fastener members fextend. The -instant vfinvenjtonprovidesa Iconstruction which can be used in supporting ,poles V or similar articles ror which can l.be used to support .a l(rack. 4forluggage or otherLuses-and which v,can be erected in'short .order .and w'h-ih when taken rdown occupies :a

minimum amountof space.

` For nthe purpose of. illustrating the` invention a Iportion of the top [ID vofan automoble'has been shown :inthe .drawings This topha's `a .depending port-ion l 6 whichcurves downwardly as .illustratedand which v:terminates in a .flange Il coacting with `,thedoor frame L2 :of theautomobile.

The .construction-of r the automobile 4f orrningfno .featureof the Ninvention has not beenshowngn rvsaid flange may-be secured thereto by welding,

-sbrazing kor lin any-other well-known manner.`

The `invention proper .includes anupwardlyexvtending arm I'I constructedof sheet metaL VThis arm is bent to forma web V1.8 g'hav'ing flanges I9 along the vertical'edges .of the same. The `-ilanges H -IS terminate at .theirflower ends above the lower w n 50 similar-to Fig. 3 fof amodiiica- 4end 21B of lthe web I8 ,which end is bent -toform a hook 2l adapted'to hook about the exterioivof thegutter I4 vas fbest shown in Figs. 1 ;and '3. :Mounted between the nanges I9 of :the armil'l and overlying the web I8 is an elongatedvstem 22 ywhich is Aembraced by `thel anges; lI 9 and vwhich may slide along the lgroovei'forrrred insaid arm therebetween The said stem extendswell toward the .lower end .of lthe arm :'I 1 and'is formed :atfits lower end with a slot 23. Overlyling thejslotted -end of vthe stem-252 is a clamp member`2-4 inthe I 'form of a plate 'which atrits extrem'e'lower end 325 is' adapted `to be received the interior voffthe gutter- M. The' web 1.a `of arm 1&1 'has afsmtz's formed in the same and which isv laiilap'tedto registerwithfthe slot23 in stem" 2,2.v The 'clamp memberZ-d hask a square'holeZ'l inthe same which registers with the 'slots 2.3 and 26. A bolt r28 vis employed for clamping the'parts together. 'This bolthasa threaded shank .f2.9l which extends through thehole 21 and the slots eand 'LJThe Q the spaces' 55 and held in position by .passing through the eyes 53 and 54.V f

3 head 39 of said bolt engages the clamp member 24 while a square'shoulder 61 on the shank 29 is received in the hole 21 and prevents rotation of the bolt. A wing nut 3| screwed on the shank 29 and engaging a washer 32 encircling said shank and bearing against the web I8 draws the parts together. The upper end of the clamp member 24 is formed with a projection 34 which is adapted to engage-the stem 22. Whenf the parts are clamped together by tightening the'nut 3| the lower end of the stern 22 is held against the web I 8 of arm |1 and the end 25 of said clamp meme,Y

ber is urged against the inner surface of the gutter I4 to hold the support attached to the gutter. y

Overlying the stem 22 at a locality above the clamp member 24 is a keeper 35. This keeper is constructed of sheet metal and is received between the two anges I9 of arm I1 and held from rotation thereby.` This keeper* has a square hole 36 in the same and the web |8'ofarm I1 ha'sa circular hole 31 in it which is adapted tov register The stem'2 2hafs aseries of with the hole 4V36.

lcircular holes38 in it and which are adapted to register with the holes36 aznd`31. For holding these parts together a lbolt 39 is employed.

YThis bolt has ak shank 40 which extends through the holes 375 and 31 and which is adapted toextend through any of the holes '38. Formedonthe shank 49 is a squareshoulder 68 .which is received in the hole 36 and holds the bolt from rotation. The bolt 39 has a head 4Iengaging the Akeeper 35. A wing nut 42 screwed onthe'shank 40 and parts together. 4,'Ihejlow'er end 'of the keeper 35 is formed with an abutment 44 adapted to engagethe projection 434 `on the 1upperjend ofthe clamp member' 24. This abutment vserves to maintainfthe end125 of thfclamp member 24 within the gutter I4 and prevents disengagement of thesaid'clamp member from the gutter.

extreme end of the portion 21 is 'constructed with 'a another'l'oop`5. 'I'he'metal adjoining the, loops c45 and 59 is held together by` means of rivets and 52. In the loops 45 and 59 are mounted eyes 53 and 54 through whicli'a suitable strap,

not shown in the drawings, may be run. The bracket 46 provides a space 55 within the same in which articles may be placed. When two of the supports are used, one at thev forward-end and one at the rearward end of lthe automobile,

poles and other long articles may be stacked in the strap f-In additiontoV supporting the support from thegutterM fof the automobile' a suctionv cup 56 is employed 'having a neck 51 and a head 58 formed thereon. Said neck is adapted to be re- ;ceived in any of a numberof holes 59 in the -portion 49 of the bracket 46.

The suction cup 56 is constructed of rubber or some similar eXi- -ble material andis adapted to be attached to f the top, In of' the automobile in the customary c manner. 1 tion lcup holdsY the holder in plac with respect lto the top Yof 'the automobile while the'gutter i I4 carries the weight of the holder and the load `mounted therein. 'f Y When properly applied thev said sucengaging a washer 43 encirclingA said shank and bearing against the web I8 serves to draw the The method of using the invention is as follows: The parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 5 with the nut 3| loosened. This permits of sliding the shank 29 of bolt 28 upwardly along the slot 2S until the end 25 of clamp member 24 clears the upper end of the gutter. The hook 2| is next hooked under the gutter I4 as shown in Fig. 5 and the bolt 28 slid downwardly until it.v occupies the position shown in Fig. 3. The shoulder 34k now drops beneath the abutment 44 and the said abutment holds the end 25 0f said clamp member within the gutter I4. Upon tightening the nut 3| the parts become rigidly clamped together. If the stem 22 is not properly and the suction cup attached to the top I9. 'Ihe support is then ready for use. Upon removing the Asupport it vis merelyA necessary to loosen Vthe nut 3 I, slidethe clamp 24 upwardly as shown in Fig. 5 and vto disengage the hook 2| from the gutter I4. Suction cup 56 is then disengaged and the support is free from the automobile. l

In Figi .6 I have shown a modication of the invention.. `inasmuch as the construction ofthe "major portionof the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the description thereof Awill not be repeated but the same reference numerals preceded by the digit 1 will be used to designate'the corresponding parts.

In this form of the inventionA the stem |22 is also' constructed of strip materialand is folded inwardly and back upon itself as Vindicated to form a bracket 60 extending inwardly from said stem. lThe material from which the stem |22 is'constructed is further'bent upwardly to form an upstanding extension 6| disposed in vertical alignment with the said stem. At the upper end of the said extension a loop 62 is formed which corresponds with the loop of the other form -of the invention and in'which is mounted an eye 63. The end of the metal from which the stem |22 is constructed, is further bent inwardly to forni another bracket 64 parallel with and spaced from the bracket''. Between the brackets and 64 is provided a .bar 65 preferably of wood which is bolted to the brackets 68 and 64 by means of bolts 66. This bar extends completely across the top' of the automobile and is secured at its other end to a similar support constructed in identically the same manner and mounted in the same manner as the support described. With such construction a trunk rack or other suitable structure may be mounted fon the bars and held supported thereon free from the top of the automobile. v

The advantages of the invention are manifest. 'I'he support is extremely simple in construction. It can be fabricated at a nominalexpense. The support is quickly mounted on the gutter of the car and when the U-shaped bracketis employed is additionally supported by engagement of the suction cup with'the top of theautoautomobile is necessary to apply the supports to v the same.

Changes in the specc form of my invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent 1. In a support for attachment to an automobile having a gutter',l an upwardly 'extending arm, a hook at the lower end of said arm adapted to extend about the lowermost portion of the gutter, a stem overlying said arm, a clamp member engageable at its lower end with the interior of said gutter and at its upper end with said stem. threaded means acting between said clamp member and arm and clamping said stem at its lower end to said arm and said arm to the gutter, a keeper overlying said stem at a locality above said clamp member and having an abutment engaging the upper end of said clamp member, threaded means engaging said keeper and arm and holding said stem against said arm and said abutment against said clamp member and attachingmeans Vat the upper end of said stem.

2. In a support for attachment to an automobile having agutter, an upwardly extending arm, a hook at the lower end of said arm adapted to extend about the lowermost portion of the gutter, a stem overlying said arm, a clamp member engageable at its lower end with the interior of said gutter and at its upper end with said stem, said stem having a slot therein at its lower end, a bolt extending through said clamp member, the slot in said stem and through said arm, said stem at a locality above said slot having a series of holes therein, a keeper having a single hole therein and said arm having a corresponding hole, said holesl being adapted to register with any of the holes in said stem, a bolt extending through the holes in said keeper and arm and adapted to extend through any of the holes in said stem, said keeper having an abutment adapted to engage said clamp member to hold said clamp member within said gutter and attaching means at the upper end or said stem.

3. In a support for attachment to an automobile having a gutter, an upwardly extending arm, a hook at the lower end of said arm adapted to extend about the lowermost portion of the gutter, a stem overlying said arm, a clamp member engageable at its lower end with the interior of said gutter and at its upper end with said stem, said clamp member having a hole therein, said stem having a slot therein and said arm having a slot therein, a bolt extending through the hole in said clamp member, the slot in said stem and the slot in said arm, said bolt when in the lower end of the slot in the arm positioning the lower end of said clamp member for engagement with the interior of the gutter and serving to draw said clamp member against the gutter and the lower end of said stem against said arm, a keeper overlying said arm at a locality above said clampV member said keeper having a hole therein, said stem having a series of holes therein and said arm having a hole therein, a second bolt extending through the holes in said keeper and arm and being adapted to extend through any of the holes in said stem and serving to clamp said stem against said arm, an abutment formed on the lower end of ysaid keeper for engagement with said clamp member. said abutment holding the clamp member within the gutter and said rst named bolt in the lower end of the slot in said arm, and attaching means at the upper end of said stem.

4. In a support for attachment to an automobile having a gutter, an upwardly extending arm, a hook at the lower end of said arm adapted to extend about `the lowermost portion of the gutter, a stem overlying'said arm, a clamp member engageable at its lower end with.v the interior of said gutter and at its upper end with said stem, said clamp member having `a hole therein, said stem having a slot therein and said arm having a slot therein, a bolt extending through the hole in said clamp member, the slot in said stem and the slot in said arm, said bolt when in the lower end of the slot in the arm positioning the lower end of said clamp member for engagement with the interior of the gutter and serving to draw said clamp member against the gutter and the lower end loi? said stem against said arm, a keeper overlying said arm at a locality above said clamp member, said keeper having a hole therein, said stem having a series of holes therein and said arm having a hole therein, a second bolt extending through the holes in said keeper and arm and being adapted to extend through any of the holes in said stem and serving to clamp said stem against said arm, an abutment formed on the lower end of said keeper for engagement with said clamp member, said abutment holding the clamp member within the gutter and said iirst named bolt in the lower end of the slot in said arm, said abutment being narrow in the direction of extent of said bolt to clear the clamp member when the bolt is opened up to accommodate upward movement of the first named bolt in the slot in said arm and movement of the clamp member upwardly and out of the gutter, and attaching l means at the upper end of said stem..

5. In a support for attachment to an auto-Y mobile having a gutter, an upwardly extending arm, a hook at the lower end of said arm adapted to extend about the lowermost portion of the gutter, a stem overlying said arm, a clamp member engageable at its lower end with the interior of said gutter and at its upper end with said stem, threaded means acting between said clamp member and arm and clamping said stem at its lower end to said arm and said arm to the gutter, a keeper overlying said stem at a locality above said clamp member and having an abutment engaging the upper end of said clamp member, threaded means engaging said keeper and arm and holding said stem against said arm and said abutment against said clamp member, flanges issuing inwardly from said arm and embracing said stem, clamp member and keeper and attaching means at the upper end of said stem.

HARRY S. BECK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Walslager July 4, 

